The Okanagan, also called the Okanagan Valley and sometimes the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is part of the Okanagan Country, extending into the United States as Okanogan County in north-central Washington. According to the 2016 Canadian census, the region's population is 362,258. The largest populated cities are Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and West Kelowna.
Osoyoos is the southernmost town in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia between Penticton and Omak. The town is 3.6 km (2.2 mi) north of the United States border in the Washington State and is adjacent to the Osoyoos Indian reserve. The origin of the name Osoyoos was the word sw̓iw̓s meaning "narrowing of the waters" in the local Okanagan language (Syilx'tsn). The "O-" prefix is not indigenous in origin and was attached by settler-promoters wanting to harmonize the name with other place names beginning with O in the Okanagan region. There was a local newspaper, the Osoyoos Times, but merged with the Oliver Chronicle and became the Times Chronicle in May 2020.
Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park is a provincial park within the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District of British Columbia, Canada, focused on the mountain of the same name and located on the east side of Okanagan Lake, opposite Peachland and immediately south of the City of Kelowna. The park is one of the largest in the area, covering 110.38 square kilometres (42.62 sq mi). Most of the park is only accessible by foot, horseback, bicycle, or boat as motor vehicle access is restricted to BC Parks staff and technicians servicing the three telecommunications towers in the park.
Bromley Rock Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Bromley Rock is a popular swimming, canoeing and cliff jumping destination located on the Similkameen River, approximately fifteen minutes from Princeton.
Vaseux Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park located along the northeastern shore of Vaseux Lake in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada. The park is situated 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Okanagan Falls on Highway 97 in the south Okanagan. The park plays a key role in educating and providing access to important conservation values and has a responsibility to maintain these activities.
Diana Lake Provincial Park is a 233 hectares provincial park located 16 kilometres east of the city of Prince Rupert in the North Coast Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. The park was established by BC Parks in 1980.
sw̓iw̓s Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located on the west side of Osoyoos Lake in the town of Osoyoos, which is on the Canada-United States border at the southern end of the Okanagan region of British Columbia. Approximately 38 hectares in size, the park was originally created in 1939. The name was changed from Haynes Point to sw̓iw̓s, the original Okanagan (Syilx'tsn) name for the region, meaning "narrowing of the waters".
Helliwell Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada located on a headland at the northeast end of Hornby Island.
Kiskatinaw Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Peace River Regional District in British Columbia, Canada. It was established on May 1, 1962 to protect a prominent horseshoe-shaped incised meander in the Kiskatinaw River where a historic curved bridge crosses the river along the original alignment of the Alaska Highway.
Kitson Island Marine Provincial Park is a provincial park protecting all 45 hectares of Kitson Island and Kitson Islet. The park is located within the asserted traditional territory of the Tsimshian and Metlakatla First Nation, at the mouth of the Skeena River in British Columbia, Canada.
Mara Provincial Park is a day-use provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located on Mara Lake south of Sicamous. The park is open with services from May 1 to September 27. The gate is locked open during the off season.
Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located in the Okanagan Highland east of Kelowna. It was established to protect the full elevational range of the North Okanagan Basin and North Okanagan Highlands ecosections.
Nickel Plate Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Formerly known as Clearwater Park, it is located in the Similkameen District at the northeast corner of Nickel Plate Lake. The park is also 29km northeast of Hedley near the Apex Ski Resort.
The Montane Cordillera Ecozone, as defined by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), is an ecozone in south-central British Columbia and southwestern Alberta, Canada. A rugged and mountainous ecozone spanning 473,000 square kilometres, it still contains "two of the few significant agricultural areas of the province", the Creston Valley and the Okanagan Valley. Primarily a mountainous region, it consists of rugged ecosystems such as alpine tundra, dry sagebrush and dense conifer forests. The interior plains are encircled by a ring of mountains. The area has a mild climate throughout the year, with typically dry summers and wet winters.
Similkameen City is a ghost town located in the Similkameen Country region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located along BC Highway 3 surrounding the Stemwinder Provincial Park, parallel to the Similkameen River. The lots that make up the "City" comprise District Lot 1968 of the Similkameen Division, Yale Land District; 5.4 kms west of Hedley, BC. The Townsite was promoted by Mr. Frank Bailey
Donnely Lake Provincial Park is a BC Parks and former recreation site located in the Cariboo Regional District of British Columbia. The park was established in 2013. The park entirely surround Donnely Lake, directly north of Deka Lake. A single trail from the former recreation site of the same name leads between Bowers Lake Forest Service Road and the lake, providing access for camping and fishing.
South Okanagan—Similkameen National Park Reserve is a proposed national park reserve in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen of British Columbia. The goal of the park is to work with the local First Nations to protect a large patch of Okanagan dry forests and part of the northern reach of the Columbia Plateau ecoregion in Canada.
White Lake Grasslands Protected Area is a conservation site located in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen of British Columbia, Canada. It was established on April 18, 2001 by an order-in-council under the Environment and Land Use Act to protect the semi-arid grassland and pine forest ecosystem west of Vaseux Lake.
